基于溶液法的单壁碳纳米管手性分离

本文综述了基于溶液法分离策略,利用表面活性剂、生物分子、共轭聚合物分子在溶液中分散或选择性分散单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs),结合各种分离技术获得单一手性SWCNTs的研究进展.阐述了不同体系中SWCNTs手性分离的原理,综合比较了不同分离技术的优缺点.单一手性SWCNTs分离技术的不断进展有助于推动单壁碳纳米管的进一步研究与应用.     

超声分散对单壁碳纳米管分离的影响

利用凝胶柱色谱技术, 研究者们通过两步或多步淋洗的方法实现了不同导电属性或电子结构单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)的分离, 并提出其分离机制主要是由不同导电属性和电子结构的SWCNTs 与凝胶填料之间作用力的差异所导致的. 基于凝胶柱色谱分离技术, 本文重点考察了超声时间对单壁碳纳米管单分散以及金属型/半导体型SWCNTs 分离的影响. 在一定的低超声功率下, 适当增加超声时间有利于SWCNTs 在十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)溶液中的单分散. 紫外-可见-近红外(UV-Vis-NIR)吸收光谱、拉曼(Raman)光谱和荧光(PL)光谱表征结果表明, 2 h的超声条件是获得高纯度的金属型以及不同直径分布的半导体型SWCNTs 的最优条件. 我们认为不同超声时间对SWCNTs 分离的影响主要是改变了SWCNTs 的单分散性和长度, 调制了不同SWCNTs 与凝胶之间作用力的差异, 从而导致了不同SWCNTs分离结果.     

单壁碳纳米管在胆酸类表面活性剂中的分散及手性碳管(6,5)的双水相分离方法

选用牛磺脱氧胆酸钠和脱氧胆酸钠等6种胆酸类表面活性剂,考察其对单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)的分散能力.紫外-可见-近红外吸收光谱测试结果表明,在超声功率为225 W,超声时间1 h的分散条件下,胆酸类表面活性剂均能对SWCNTs均匀分散,均可作为SWCNTs的分散剂.在相同条件下,质量分数为2%的牛磺脱氧胆酸钠对SWCNTs的分散能力最强,脱氧胆酸钠对SWCNTs的分散能力最弱.此外,还采用聚乙二醇/葡聚糖双水相系统对SWCNTs分散液进行了萃取分离,获得了纯度较高的手性SWCNTs(6,5).所筛选的SWCNTs分散剂及采用的双水相分离方法为单一手性SWCNTs的分离提供了一定的技术参考.     

多糖凝胶的孔径和化学结构对单壁碳纳米管流动性和选择性分离的影响

基于凝胶柱色谱分离技术研究了单分散的单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)在不同化学结构多孔多糖凝胶中的流动特性以及对金属型(m-)/半导体型(s-)SWCNTs分离的影响.通过比较SWCNTs在一系列不同孔径的葡聚糖Sephacryl凝胶中的流动行为,发现减小孔径尺寸能够增强s-SWCNTs与凝胶之间的吸附作用力,使大直径的m-SWCNTs快速地流过凝胶颗粒,而选择性地保留了小直径的s-SWCNTs.进一步发现多糖凝胶化学结构比孔径尺寸在SWCNTs的m/s分离中起着更重要的作用.当基于葡聚糖结构的Sephacryl凝胶中的氨基结构被琼脂糖结构所取代时,如Superdex 200和Sepharose 2B凝胶会增强它们与SWCNTs之间的作用力,使SWCNTs的保留时间延长,降低了s-SWCNTs的选择性和纯度.此外,即使拥有与Sephacryl S100类似的孔径范围,当Sephacryl凝胶中的氨基被疏水环氧丙烷基团取代时,葡聚糖凝胶Sephadex G100与SWCNTs的作用力很弱,导致所有SWCNTs快速流动,无法实现SWCNTs的m/s分离.因而,我们认为凝胶孔径和化学结构共同影响并调控了SWCNTs的m/s分离的选择性、纯度以及分离效率.     

多糖凝胶的孔径和化学结构对单壁碳纳米管流动性和选择性分离的影响

基于凝胶柱色谱分离技术研究了单分散的单壁碳纳米管（SWCNTs）在不同化学结构多孔多糖凝胶中的流动特性以及对金属型（m-）/半导体型（s-）SWCNTs 分离的影响. 通过比较SWCNTs 在一系列不同孔径的葡聚糖Sephacryl 凝胶中的流动行为,发现减小孔径尺寸能够增强s-SWCNTs 与凝胶之间的吸附作用力,使大直径的m-SWCNTs 快速地流过凝胶颗粒,而选择性地保留了小直径的s-SWCNTs. 进一步发现多糖凝胶化学结构比孔径尺寸在SWCNTs 的m/s 分离中起着更重要的作用. 当基于葡聚糖结构的Sephacryl 凝胶中的氨基结构被琼脂糖结构所取代时,如Superdex 200 和Sepharose 2B凝胶会增强它们与SWCNTs 之间的作用力,使SWCNTs 的保留时间延长,降低了s-SWCNTs 的选择性和纯度. 此外,即使拥有与Sephacryl S100类似的孔径范围,当Sephacryl 凝胶中的氨基被疏水环氧丙烷基团取代时,葡聚糖凝胶Sephadex G100 与SWCNTs 的作用力很弱,导致所有SWCNTs 快速流动,无法实现SWCNTs 的m/s 分离. 因而,我们认为凝胶孔径和化学结构共同影响并调控了SWCNTs的m/s分离的选择性、纯度以及分离效率.     

琼脂糖性质对凝胶电泳法分离金属性和半导体性单壁碳纳米管的影响

利用琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)技术, 考察了MB, Agarose, Agarose B和LRU 4种琼脂糖对SWCNTs分离效率的影响. 紫外-可见-近红外(UV-Vis-NIR)吸收光谱研究结果表明, 不同的琼脂糖对SWCNTs中s-SWCNTs的分离效率影响较小, 而对m-SWCNTs的分离效率影响较大. 分析4种琼脂糖凝胶的凝胶强度和凝胶网孔尺寸等发现, 影响SWCNTs中m-SWCNTs分离效率的主要因素是琼脂糖的凝胶强度和琼脂糖凝胶形成的网孔尺寸, 小的凝胶网孔尺寸有利于m-SWCNTs富集, 高凝胶强度则不利于其富集.     

琼脂糖凝胶电泳法分离金属性和半导体性单壁碳纳米管

琼脂糖凝胶电泳(AGE)是实现金属性单壁碳纳米管(m-SWCNTs)和半导体性单壁碳纳米管(s-SWCNTs)低成本、规模化分离的有效技术之一。本研究利用琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离单壁碳纳米管。通过紫外-可见-近红外吸收光谱和拉曼光谱对色谱带进行分段表征,发现电泳中迁移的最快的部分m-SWCNTs含量最高。考察了琼脂糖的浓度对SWCNTs中m-SWCNTs分离的影响。结果表明:高的琼脂糖浓度有利于m-SWC-NTs的富集,可以通过扩大电荷密度带来的迁移速率的差异来使SWCNTs中的m-SWCNTs得到更有效的分离。     

几何限制对碳纳米管中气体小分子吸附与分离的影响

使用DFTB方法研究多种单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)的应力-应变关系,预测了在几何限制作用下,其杨氏模量和能带结构的变化规律.系统探讨了外部应力作用下SWCNTs内外表面吸附H_2,N_2和H_2S气体分子能力的变化规律,确定了SWCNTs对于上述混合气体的分离和提纯能力.     

单壁碳纳米管的电子速度及有效质量

利用单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)能量色散关系, 计算了最低导带的电子速度和有效质量, 重点讨论了SWCNTs中最低导带电子速度和有效质量与波矢及管径大小的关系. 结果表明, 半导体型锯齿SWCNTs的电子速度和有效质量与其结构参量(管径)有直接的关系. 各种椅型SWCNTs(金属型)和金属型锯齿SWCNTs最低导带电子速度和有效质量随波矢的变化规律分别相同, 各种半导体型锯齿SWCNTs最低导带电子速度和有效质量随波矢的变化规律则有明显差别. 这意味着在低偏压下, 不同管径的椅型SWCNTs和金属型锯齿SWCNTs输运性能相同, 而各种不同管径半导体型锯齿SWCNTs输运性能有明显差别.     

水对氩气中催化法分解甲烷制备单壁碳纳米管的影响

用"柠檬酸法"制备W-Fe-MgO和Mo-Fe-MgO催化剂,以Ar为载气,在1273 K催化分解CH₄制单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs),发现原料气中加水和不加水对产物的影响极大.不加水时,产物中SWCNTs含量极低,以无定形碳和多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)为主;加少量水时,产物绝大部分是直径在1～3 nm左右SWCNTs形成的管束.在1273 K下,H₂O分压在0.67～2.0 kPa时得到SWCNTs含量较高的产物,100 mg催化剂上的碳产量为40～52 mg.进一步增加原料气中的水分压到2.7 kPa,则无碳产物生成.通过对比实验、粗产物XRD分析和对反应尾气质谱检测,可得如下结论:在Mo-Fe-MgO和W-Fe-MgO催化剂中的金属氧化物和碳化物是CH₄分解为无定形碳的活性相,Fe-Mo合金相是CH₄分解得SWCNTs的主要活性相.当反应气中无水时,CH₄在催化剂中的氧化物和碳化物上生成的无定形碳起决定作用,而Fe-Mo合金上生成SWCNTs的反应相对减少,使产物中SWCNTs含量很低;反应气中有少量水时,水抑制了催化剂中氧化物和碳化物上无定形碳的生成,使CH₄在Fe-Mo合金上分解生成SWCNTs成为主反应,此时产物中SWCNTs含量较高;水量过大时,催化剂中氧化物不能被还原为金属,故无SWCNTs生成,而此时水也抑制了无定形碳的生成,因而无任何碳产物生成.     

Polyoxometalate steric hindrance driven chirality-selective separation of subnanometer carbon nanotubes

Subnanometer single-chirality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are of particular interest in multiple applications. Inspired by the interdisciplinary combination of redox active polyoxometalates and SWCNTs, here we report a cluster steric hindrance strategy by assembling polyoxometalates on the outer surface of subnanometer SWCNTs via electron transfer and demonstrate the selective separation of monochiral (6,5) SWCNTs with a diameter of 0.75 nm by a commercially available conjugated polymer. The combined use of DFT calculations, TEM, and XPS unveils the mechanism that selective separation is associated with tube diameter-dependent interactions between the tube and clusters. Sonication drives the preferential detachment of polyoxometalate clusters from small-diameter (6,5) SWCNTs, attributable to weak tube–cluster interactions, which enables the polymer wrapping and separation of the released SWCNTs, while strong binding clusters with large-diameter SWCNTs provide steric hindrance and block the polymer wrapping. The polyoxometalate-assisted modulation, which can be rationally customized, provides a universal and robust pathway for the separation of SWCNTs.

We develop a cluster steric hindrance strategy by assembling polyoxometalates on subnanometer single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and demonstrate the selective separation of single-chirality (6,5) SWCNTs via polymer extraction.     

Capillary electrophoresis of covalently functionalized single‐chirality carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate the separation of chirality‐enriched single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by degree of surface functionalization using high‐performance CE. Controlled amounts of negatively charged and positively charged functional groups were attached to the sidewall of chirality‐enriched SWCNTs through covalent functionalization using 4‐carboxybenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate or 4‐diazo‐N,N‐diethylaniline tetrafluoroborate, respectively. Surfactant‐ and pH‐dependent studies confirmed that under conditions that minimized ionic screening effects, separation of these functionalized SWCNTs was strongly dependent on the surface charge density introduced through covalent surface chemistry. For both heterogeneous mixtures and single‐chirality‐enriched samples, covalently functionalized SWCNTs showed substantially increased peak width in electropherogram spectra compared to nonfunctionalized SWCNTs, which can be attributed to a distribution of surface charges along the functionalized nanotubes. Successful separation of functionalized single‐chirality SWCNTs by functional density was confirmed with UV‐Vis‐NIR absorption and Raman scattering spectroscopies of fraction collected samples. These results suggest a high degree of structural heterogeneity in covalently functionalized SWCNTs, even for chirality‐enriched samples, and show the feasibility of applying CE for high‐performance separation of nanomaterials based on differences in surface functional density.     

Naphthalenebisimides as photofunctional surfactants for SWCNTs – towards water-soluble electron donor–acceptor hybrids

A water soluble naphthalenebisimide derivative (NBI) was synthesized and probed to individualize, suspend, and stabilize single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Besides a comprehensive photophysical and electrochemical characterization of NBI, stable suspensions of SWCNTs were realized in buffered D₂O. Overall, the dispersion efficiency of the NBI surfactant was determined by comparison with naphthalene based references. Successful individualization of SWCNTs was corroborated in several microscopic assays. In addition, emission spectroscopy points to the strong quenching of SWCNT centered band gap emission, when NBIs are immobilized onto SWCNTs. The origin of the quenching was found to be strong electronic communication, which leads to charge separation between NBIs and photoexcited SWCNTs, and, which yields reduced NBIs as well oxidized SWCNTs. Notably, electrochemical considerations revealed that the energy content of these charge separated states is one of the highest reported for SWCNT based electron donor–acceptor hybrids so far.     

Bulk electrical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes immobilized by dielectrophoresis: evidence of metallic or semiconductor behavior

We report the electrical characterization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) trapped between two electrodes by dielectrophoresis (DEP). At high frequency, SWCNTs collected by DEP are expected to be of metallic type. Indeed current-voltage (I-V) measurements for devices made at 10 MHz show high values of conductivity and exhibit metallic behavior with linear and symmetric electrical features attributed to ohmic conduction. At low frequency, SWCNTs attracted by DEP are expected to be of semiconducting nature. Devices made at 10 kHz behave as semiconductors and demonstrate nonlinear and rectifying electrical characteristics with conductivities many orders of magnitude below the sample resulting from high-frequency immobilization of SWCNTs. Conducting atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) and current density calculation results are presented to reinforce results obtained by I-V measurements which clearly show type separation of SWCNTs after DEP experiments.     

Fluorimetric characterization of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are a family of structurally related artificial nanomaterials with unusual properties and many potential applications. Most SWCNTs can emit spectrally narrow near-IR fluorescence at wavelengths that are characteristic of their precise diameter and chiral angle. Near-IR fluorimetry therefore offers a powerful approach for identifying the structural species present in SWCNT samples. Such characterization is increasingly important for nanotube production, study, separation, and applications. General-purpose and specialized instruments suitable for SWCNT fluorimetric analysis are described, and methods for interpreting fluorimetric data to deduce the presence and relative abundances of different SWCNT species are presented. Fluorescence methods are highly effective for detecting SWCNTs in challenging samples such as complex environmental or biological specimens because of the methods’ high sensitivity and selectivity and the near absence of interfering background emission at near-IR wavelengths. Current limitations and future prospects for fluorimetric characterization of SWCNTs are discussed.